Jewelry shortener lock with pin



l 13, 1956 E. BOHLINGER ETAL 3,

JEWELRY SHORTENER LOCK WITH PIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1963INVENTORS 5 N a m W Mm w Mm B a 7 U m mam p 13, 1966 E. BOHLINGER ETALJEWELRY SHORTENER LOCK WITH PIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1963INVENTORS United States Patent 3,271,977 JEWELRY SHORTENER LOCK WITH PINErnst Bohlinger, 31-15 25th Ave., Astoria, Long Island, N.Y., and SamuelFriedman, 556 Ave. Z, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,914 8 Claims. (Cl. 63-1) Thisinvention relates to the art of jewelry clasps and more particularlyrelates to a clasp for adjusting the length of a necklace loop and thelike.

Broadly, the invention comprises a thin flatwise bar with flangesdepending from the bottom edge at the ends thereof supporting shorttubes in spaced aligned position, parallel to the body of the bar. Anornamental plate is supported on the top edge of the bar and overlapssaid edge. A slidable sleeve is interposed between the inner spaced endsof the tubes adapted to close the gap between said inner ends. Anornamental brooch is supported by the aligned tubes and sleeve by meansof a pivoted pin and latch.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a clasp foradjusting the length of a necklace loop or the like, the clasp havingornamental devices adapted to seat on opposite sides of the necklace forornamental purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp for adjusting thelength of a necklace loop that is convertible from a clasp with a singleornament to a clasp with a pair of ornaments.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clasp for adjustingthe length of a necklace loop with a permanent ornament and with meansfor detachably mounting a temporary detachable ornament.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference Will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a fragment of a necklace with a claspembodying the invention in length-shortening position thereon.

FIG. 2 is a similar view with the clasp in partly open position.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof with parts of the clasp omitted.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with parts of the clasp omitted.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 on a larger scale.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 on a larger scale.

FIG. 7 is an end edge view of the clasp as seen along the line 77 ofFIG. 5, the necklace being shown in dotdash lines.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 99 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the latching sleeve in openposition.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a jewelry claspindicated generally by the reference numeral 10. Referring particularlyto FIG. 7, the clasp includes an elongated thin flat metal bar body 12with depending flanges 14 at the ends thereof. A pair of short tubes 16and 18 are fastened in horizontal aligned spaced position to the bottomedges of the flanges 14 by welding or the like. The body 12, flanges 14and tubes 16 and 18 define a space 20 there between, communicating withthe space 22 between the inner ends of the tubes.

3,271,977 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 A split sleeve 24 is slidably mountedon the tube 16 and is of a length to span the space 22 between the endsof the tubes. A finger piece 26 is formed on the solid portion of thesleeve midway its ends for manually sliding the sleeve. The sleeve isslitted from the finger piece to and intersecting the adjacent end ofthe sleeve as indicated at 28. A stop 30 is formed on the bottom surfaceof tube 16 for coacting with the closed inner end of slit 28 to limitmovement of the sleeve in one direction, and a similar stop 32 is formedon the bottom surface of tube 18 to limit movement of the sleeve in theopposite direction, as will be seen in FIG. 6.

An elongated plate 34 substantially oval in top plan is fastened to thetop edge of the bar body 12 by welding or the like. The plate has acorrugated or fluted peripheral edge 36 and the top surface thereof isformed with radial lines 38 radiating from a center circle in simulationof a sunburst. The plate ornaments and enhances the attractiveness ofthe clasp.

In order to shorten the length of a necklace loop, such as the necklace42 shown in FIG. 1, the clasp 10 is attached to the necklace betweenadjacent pairs of balls 44 by inserting reaches of the cord 46 betweensaid balls through the space 22 between the inner ends of the tubes 16and 18, the sleeve 24 having first been slid over tube 16 out of theway. The cord positions itself in the space 22, the adjacent ballsimpinging against the bar body, tubes and sleeve holding the claspagainst movement along the necklace.

The invention contemplates use of an article of jewelry for enhancingthe attractiveness of the clasp 10. The article of jewelry, such as abrooch 50, comprises a slightly curved elongated metal body 52 of theconfiguration of a leaf with a scalloped peripheral edge 54 and acentral vein 56. An elongated pin 58 has one end hingedly fastened to aperforated lug 60 on the inner surface of the body 52 adjacent one endthereof, the other end of the pin adapted to engage a fixedly mountedlatch 62 for holding the free end of the pin in latched position. Inorder to use the brooch 50, the pin 58 is inserted through the alignedtubes 16 and 18 and the sleeve 24 as seen in FIG. 2. The body of thebrooch is swung over the necklace and the projecting point of the pinlatched to the latch 62 on the body of the brooch, securing the broochin the position shown in FIG. 1.

It will "be understood that the clasp may be used without the brooch 50and will serve effectively as a device for shortening the length of thenecklace loop such as shown in FIG. 5, and at the same time will presentan ornamental and attractive appearance.

The clasp will readily serve the purpose of enabling adjustablelengthening or shortening of loops of necklaces in a quick, convenientand safe manner. The clasp may be made of precious or base metals, ormay be made of base metal plated with various metals.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of ourinvention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to theprecise construction herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

1. A jewelry clasp for adjusting the length of a necklace loop,comprising an elongated flat thin bar with flanges depending from theends thereof, tubes supported on the ends of the flanges in overly-ingspaced relation to said bar and in spaced alignment with each other anda sleeve means slidably supported on one of the tubes adapted to spanthe space between the tubes and provide access to the first mentionedspace, said tubes and sleeve means forming a through passage.-

2. A jewelry clasp for adjusting the length of a necklace loop,comprising an elongated flat thin bar with flanges depending from theends thereof, tubes supported on the ends of the flanges in overlyingspaced relation to said bar and in spaced alignment with each other anda sleeve means slidably supported on one of the tubes adapted to spanthe space between the tubes and provide access to the first mentionedspace, said tubes and sleeve means forming a through passage, and meanson the tubes for limiting sliding movement of the sleeve means, saidbar, flanges and tube defining a recess to receive part of a necklace.

3. A jewelry clasp for adjusting the length of a necklace loop,comprising an elongated flat thin bar with flanges depending from theends thereof, tubes supported on the ends of the flanges in overlyingspaced relation to said bar and in spaced alignment with each other anda sleeve means slidably supported on one of the tubes adapted'to spanthe space between the tubes and provide access to the first mentionedspace, said tubes and sleeve means forming a through passage, means onthe tubes for limiting sliding movement of the sleeve means, and meanson the sleeve means for facilitating sliding thereof.

4. A jewelry clasp for adjusting the length of a necklace loop,comprising an elongated flat thin bar with flanges depending from theends thereof, tubes supported on the ends of the flanges in overlyingspaced relation to said bar and in spaced alignment with each other, anda sleeve means slidably supported on one of the tubes adapted to spanthe space between the tubes and provide access to the first mentionedspace, said tubes and sleeve means forming a through passage, lugsdepending from the tubes for limiting sliding movement of the sleevemeans and means on the sleeve means for facilitating sliding thereof.

5. A jewelry clasp for adjusting the length of a necklace loop,comprising an elongated flat thin bar with flanges depending from theends thereof, tubes supported on the ends of the flanges in overlyingspaced relation to said bar and in spaced alignment with each other, anda sleeve means slidably supported on one of the tubes adapted to spanthe space between the tubes and provide access to the first mentionedspace, said tubes and sleeve means forming a through passage, anornamental oval-shaped plate fixed on the top edge of the bar disposedperpendicular to the plane of the body of the bar, said plateoverlapping both sides of the body of the bar, said plate having itsouter surface decorated with radial lines and having its peripheral edgecorrugated.

6. A jewelry clasp for adjusting the length of a necklace loop,comprising an elongated flat thin bar with flanges depending from theends thereof, tubes supported on the ends of the flanges in overlyingspaced relation to said bar and in spaced alignment with each other anda sleeve means slid-ably supported on one of the tubes adapted to spanthe space between the tubes and provide access to the first mentionedspace, said tubes and sleeve means forming a through passage, lugsdepending from the tubes for limiting sliding movement of the sleevemeans, and a finger piece on the sleeve means to facilitate slidingthereof, an ornamental oval-shaped plate fixed on the top edge of thebar disposed perpendicularly to the plane of the body of the bar, saidplate overlapping both sides of the body of the bar, said plate havingits outer surface decorated with radial lines and having its periphe raledge corrugated.

7. A jewelry clasp for adjusting the length of a necklace loop,comprising an elongated flat thin bar with flanges depending from theends thereof, tubes supported on the ends of the flanges in overlyingspaced relation to said bar and in spaced alignment with each other anda sleeve means slidably supported on one of the tubes adapted to spanthe space between the tubes and provide access to the first mentionedspace, an ornamental oval-shaped plate fixed on the top edge of the bardisposed perpendicular to the plane of the body of the bar, said plateoverlapping both sides of the body of the bar, said plate having itsouter surface decorated with radial lines and having its peripheral edgecorrugated, and a brooch having an elongated pin detachably extendingthrough the aligned tubes and sleeve means,

and means carried by the brooch for latching the brooch onto theprotruding end of the pin, said plate adapted to seat on one side of anecklace and said brooch on the other side of the necklace.

8. A jewelry clasp for adjusting the length of a necklace loop,comprising an elongated flat thin bar with flanges depending from theends thereof, tubes supported on the ends of the flanges in overlyingspaced relation to said bar and in spaced alignment with each other anda sleeve means slidably supported on one of the tubes adapted to spanthe space between the tubes and provide access to the first mentionedspace, lugs depending from the tubes for limiting sliding movement ofthe sleeve means, and a finger piece on the sleeve means to facilitatesliding thereof, an ornamental oval-shaped plate fixed on the top edgeof the bar disposed perpendicularly to the plane of the body of the bar,said plate overlapping both sides of the body of the bar, said platehaving its outer surface decorated with radial lines and having itsperipheral edge corrugated, and a brooch having an elongated pindetachably extending through the aligned tubes and sleeve means, andmeans carried by the brooch for latching the brooch onto the protrudingend of the pin, said plate adapted to seat on one side of a necklace andsaid brooch on the other side of the necklace.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 322,364 7/1885Fletcher 6320 X 1,442,096 1/1923 Robinson 24239 1,588,533 6/1926 Elzey.2,930,209 3/1960 Altman 63-2 X FOREIGN PATENTS 421,295 12/1910 France.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

F. B. SHAY, Assistant Examiner.

1. A JEWELRY CLASP FOR ADJUSTING THE LENGTH OF A NECKLACE LOOPCOMPRISING AN ELONGATED FLAT THIN BAR WITH FLANGES DEPENDING FROM THEENDS THEREOF, TUBES SUPPORTED ON THE ENDS OF THE FLANGES IN OVERLYLINGSPACED RELATION TO SAID BARS AND IN SPACED ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER ANDA SLEEVE MEANS SLIDABLY SUPPORTED ON ONE SIDE OF THE TUBES ADAPTED TOSPAN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE TUBES AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE FIRSTMENTIONED SPACE, SAID TUBES AND SLEEVE MEANS FORMING A THROUGH PASSAGE.7. A JEWELRY CLASP FOR ADJUSTING THE LENGTH OF A NECK LACE LOOP,COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FLAT THIN BAR WITH FLANGES DEPENDING FROM THEENDS THEREOF TUBES SUPPORTED ON THE ENDS OF THE FLANGES IN OVERLYINGSPACED RELAITON TO SAID BAR AND IN SPACED ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER ENDA SLEEVE MEANS SLIDABLY SUPPORTED ON ONE OF THE TUBES ADAPTED TO SPANTHE SPACE BETWEEN THE TUBES AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE FIRST MENTIONEDSPACE, AN ORNAMENTAL OVAL-SHAPED PLATE FIXED ON THE TOP EDGE OF THE BARDISPOSED PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF THE BODY OF THE BAR, SAID PLATEOVERLAPPING BOTH SIDES OF THE BODY OF THE BAR, SAID PLATE HAVING ITSOUTER SURFACE DOCORATED WITH RADIAL LINES AND HAVING ITS PERIPHERAL EDGECORRUGATED, AND A BROOCH HAVING AN ELONGATED PIN DETACHABLY EXTENDINGTHROUGH THE ALIGNED TUBES AND SLEEVE MEANS, AND MEANS CARRIED BY THEBROOCH FOR LATCHING THE BROOCH ONTO THE PROTRUDING END OF THE PIN, SAIDPLATE ADAPTED TO SEAT ON ONE SIDE OF A NECKLACE AND SAID BROOCK ON THEOTHER SIDE OF THE NECKLACE.